Peach leaf curl

Hi all
Despite my best efforts at keeping the plants dry in the early spring my two gorgeous Terrace peach trees are suffering terribly from PLC. It seems not to have affected the fruiting though but I'm concerned that it's stressing the poor things dreadfully!
I have a number of questions, please can anyone advise?

Can I use Bordeaux mixture on them right now?
Do I need to wait until the first leaf drop?
If I were to apply it now what might happen to the fruit?
Will it render them poisonous?
If I do nothing will the tree be ok?

thanks awfully!
lynne

 

There was a query about this earlier this year Lynne.

(our pot peach blew over yesterday and we lost half the crop plus a broken branch :( )

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=000706#000000

 

We have had this with all 3 of our red peach trees and have found that once the tree gets older it is better able to resist this. Our oldest tree does not get it any more, just the 2 younger ones. We have always picked the curled leaves off, cutting the branch tips back if they were badly affected. Be sure to dispose of all of the affected parts in the garbage can, NOT in the compost heap! We have never sprayed with anything. The fruit is not affected.

 

Lynne, I hope you dont mind me asking, but are you sure its Peach Leaf Curl.
Mine get bad attacks of Leaf Curling Aphid at this time of the year, the leaves curl up and appear reddish.



real leaf curl distorts the leaf and it goes pink and white very thick.

 

nope, it's definitely peach leaf curl. No aphids, and as you describe, the leaves are distorted and thickened.
Poor tree!

 

Then I dont think there is much you can do other than spray with a systemic fungicide and remove all affected leaves.
Its never killed my trees and its not always as bad the following year, even though I dont spray against it, I find mildew the worst fungus on peaches.
Dont think I would use copper at this time of the year.